Camellia japonica Paul Sérusier

Camellia x reticulata 'Paul Sérusier', selected in Brittany by Roger Salaün in 2008, is a superb variety of Japanese camellia that is both vigorous and floriferous. Its flower is very large, mostly semi-double, and of a bright pink colour. With a beautiful upright habit and rapid growth, this camellia can be planted in borders, hedges, or even in a large pot on the terrace. Its elegant foliage remains beautiful throughout the year, and its flowering, which takes place in the middle of the Japanese camellia season, lasts for several weeks in spring. It is a very beautiful bush for gardens with mild and humid climates.

The Camellia 'Paul Sérusier' belongs to the Theaceae family, like its ancestor Camellia reticulata. The latter has passed on its upright habit, large leaves, vigour, and large flowers. It is a fast-growing shrub for a camellia, reaching about 1.50 m (5 ft) in height and 1 m (3 ft) in width after 10 years. At maturity, after 15 to 20 years, it can measure about 2.30 m (7-8 ft) in height and 1.25 m (4 ft) in width, depending on the growing conditions. Between April and May it produces dozens of cup-shaped flowers, 13 to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter and 4 cm (1.6 in) deep, perfectly formed, composed of firm, wide, and rounded petals of a bright pink colour. The centre of the corolla is occupied by yellow stamens. The flower falls off completely when it fades, giving the shrub a consistently tidy appearance. The foliage, evergreen throughout the year, consists of large elliptical leaves, 12-15 cm (6 in) long and 5-7 cm (3 in) wide, leathery, finely toothed at the edges, dark green, and slightly glossy on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -10/-12°C in the ground, its flower buds can be destroyed by snow, icy winds, and temperatures below -5°C.

Camellia japonica 'Paul Sérusier' prefers rather mild and humid climates and thrives in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. It will tolerate non-scorching sun in favourable climates but will give its best in partial shade or even shade, protected from intense sunlight and sheltered from strong winds. It can be planted e.g. in a shrub border, alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or Kalmia Latifolia. That said 'Paul Sérusier', with its undeniable elegance, deserves a special place near the entrance of the house, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored indoors during winter in very cold climates.